New 3D camera eyes Wii-style gameplay

By Kemp Powers

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters Life!) - The success of Nintendo's Wii video game console and franchises like Activision's "Guitar Hero" have prompted companies to explore new ways to allow players to control their games.

One of the latest is from an Israel-based technology firm that is trying to take gameplay to the most interactive level yet.

This week, digital imaging company 3DV Systems of Yokne'am, Israel, announced the creation of the ZCam, a new 3D camera for personal computers that is so sensitive to motion that players can control on-screen action by merely flicking a finger.

"The Wii has shown us the way, but this device can take things so much farther," said 3DV Chief Executive Zvika Klier during a recent demonstration for Reuters.

Because it can sense depth, the camera tracks movements in three dimensions.

After navigating through multiple screens and menus on his computer using only hand gestures, Klier launches a game where he controls an airplane by simply moving his hands from side to side, and by raising his thumbs to activate machine-guns and drop bombs.

He then switches to a boxing game, swinging in the air to deliver punches and ducking to avoid the blows of his computer opponent. This is similar to the motion control made popular by the Wii, but no controller is present. Instead, the ZCam is reading every movement.

"With this, we can really put you into the game," Klier said.